By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
Saturday the Dowagiac varsity softball team will host some of the best teams in southwest Michigan and Northern Indiana at its annual invitational.
Joining the Chieftains on four fields throughout the city will be defending champion Kalamazoo Christian, Elkhart (Ind.) Memorial, Grandville, South Bend (Ind.) Washington, Andrean (Merrillville, Ind.), Jenison and Portage Northern.
Last year Kalamazoo Christian defeated Dowagiac 1-0 in the title game on an unearned run in the third inning.
The Chieftains reached the finals with wins over Elkhart Memorial (2-0) and Andrean, which was ranked No. 1 in Class 3A at the time, 1-0.
Kalamazoo Christian reached the finals with wins over Mishawaka (Ind.) Marian and Grandville.
The tournament will be played at Dowagiac Union High School, Rotary Park, Russom Fields and the Highway Department field across from the high school.
The Chieftains will take on Elkhart Memorial at the high school.
Grandville will face South Bend Washington at Russom Fields on Yaw Street, while Kalamazoo Christian will meet Andrean at Rotary Park. In the other first round game, Jenison will face Portage Northern at the Highway Department field.
All first round games begin at 10:30 a.m.
The winners of the Dowagiac-Elkhart Memorial and the Grandville-Washington contests advance to the semifinals at 1 p.m. at the high school field. The winners of the Kalamazoo Christian-Andrean and Jenison-Portage Northern games will play in the other semifinal at Rotary Park, also at 1 p.m.
The losers of the first round games will play at 1 p.m. at Russom Fields and the Highway Department.
The championship game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at the high school. The third place game will be played at Russom Fields, while the fifth place game will be played at Rotary Park. The seventh place game will be played at the Highway Department field. Those games all begin at 3:30 p.m.
Concessions will be available at the high school and at Russom Fields. There will be a pancake breakfast served at the high school until 11 a.m.
The Chieftain softball team and soccer team, which is hosting the Dowagiac Early Bird Invitational as well on Saturday, are currently selling tickets for port-a-pit chicken. (see related story page 8)